Sven Goran Eriksson is planning to tell all about his torrid time as England manager in an autobiography that will cover a personal life that overshadowed his football achievements.
And the timing of the book launch on October 16 — the day after England’s last World Cup qualifier — ensures the Headline publication gains maximum impact and gives Sven, who earned £4million a year with the FA, his final pay day on the back of England.
Mercenary Eriksson, who has written his memoir Svennis with Swedish journalist Stefan Lovgren, has had spells with Manchester City, Mexico, Notts County, Leicester City, Ivory Coast, Thai club Tero Sasana and Al Nasr in Dubai since leaving the England job in 2006.
Time to perfection: Sven-Goran Eriksson's autobiography will be released the day after England's last World Cup qualifierBut his five-and-a-half years at the FA will be at the heart of his life story, including the fake sheik scandal, his stormy relationship with partner Nancy Dell’Olio and flings with Ulrika Jonsson and, most notably, FA secretary Faria Alam that caused a meltdown at English football’s ruling body.
Eriksson says: ‘There has been so much said about me that is not true. Now I want to take the opportunity to give my own view of everything that has happened. I want it to be an open and honest book about life on and off the field.’
An Ashes summer is regarded as the big selling point for any England cricket sponsorship. But team backers Brit Insurance have lost so much interest in their cricket deal — even for the marquee Australia series — that they have handed back contracted player appearance dates to the ECB. The Board and Brit, who fell out of love with cricket after a change of ownership, tried to opt out of their partnership a year early — Waitrose are not due to take over until May 2014 — but cricket kit production times put a stop to that.
Lalit Modi, one of the founders of the Indian Premier League who is mired in corruption allegations, was due to be on a panel at a Wisden 150 function at The Oval next week debating how the IPL and twenty20 have changed cricket. But Indian cricket’s all-powerful ruling body BCCI, who are due imminently to announce findings of their near three-year probe into Modi’s dealings, stamped their feet to the extent that he has been removed from the list of speakers.
Corruption allegations: Lalit Modi has been removed from the panel at a Wisden 150 function
Jamie Oliver's event caterers Fabulous Feasts, who caused such a stir at Lord’s with their £20 ‘ultimate steak sarnie’, have also won the food franchise at Manchester City next season in partnership with America-based Legends Hospitality, who cater for the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys.
However, the joint venture Fabulous Fan Fayre are going to provide hot dogs and burgers for less than £5 at the Etihad Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Football League are set to announce a tie-up with American pizza company Papa John’s. It will be a second-tier deal rather than the title sponsorship desperately needed following B&Q’s withdrawal.
Manchester City bound: Jamie Oliver's Fabulous Feasts has won the food franchise at the Etihad StadimBecks’ Yankee bargain
David Beckham is ‘definitely’ going to exercise the clause in his contract with Los Angeles Galaxy that allows him to buy an expansion team franchise in Major League Soccer for a heavily discounted price — understood to be $25million (£16.5m).
This compares with the $100m asking price for a second MLS team in New York, in which Manchester City owner Sheik Mansour is reported to be interested. Beckham’s ownership of an MLS side is not going to happen immediately, but within five years.
Seamus O’Brien, who runs sports marketing giants World Sports Group and the New York Cosmos, is not planning an MLS bid. He believes having the Cosmos in the lower league NASL while football grows in America is a better financial model.
Ambitious: David Beckham will buy an MLS expansion team franchsieFulham manager Martin Jol is understood to be about as popular with his players as the departed Roberto Mancini was at Manchester City. Certainly, bookies and a number of Craven Cottage insiders believe Jol will be one of many managerial casualties despite Sunday’s win.
Unpopular: Fulham boss Martin Jol could be on his way out of Craven CottageMore... Charles Sale: Tweeter KP risks reopening the rift with England team-mates Charles Sale: Nike urge fans to rally round England shirt by putting country before club CHARLES SALE: Sky have reached their limits in commentary box as Strauss joins Ashes team Hansen will quit BBC's Match of the Day sofa in 2014 as part of overdue shake up
